If you’re thinking of buying a house in San Diego, this particular neighborhood might sound like a pretty bland place to settle down. But there’s nothing normal about Normal Heights. Awash in art galleries, antique shops and coffee houses, the town boasts a flourishing arts community, and if you like pedestrian-friendly streets, you’re going to have fun living here.
Normal Heights got its name from the State Normal School that was founded there in 1907. Since the Normal School relocated and changed its name to San Diego State University, Normal Heights has grown into a burgeoning arts community known across the city for its culturally diverse Adams Avenue Roots Festival, its Adams Avenue Street Fair and the periodic community-wide art shows, which have been aptly named “Art Around Adams.”
For the community-minded, Normal Heights is definitely a satisfying place to live. Many of the stores that line the streets of the town’s cozy business district are locally owned and operated, and the neighborhood’s residents play a particularly active role in establishing local policies and organizing events. People watch out for one another here, and thanks to the low crime rate, Normal Heights has been recognized as one of San Diego’s “Safe Neighborhoods.”
As is typical with many inner-city neighborhoods, many of the homes in Normal Heights are actually two- or three-bedroom townhomes and row houses. With an average price of $189,000, these houses are certainly affordable, even if they aren’t the biggest pieces of San Diego real estate on the market.
If you’re buying a home in San Diego and you want to get a taste of a truly free-spirited community, then Normal Heights is definitely worth a closer look. Its great walking routes, quaint shops and neighborly attitude add up to one abnormally cool place to live.
